Better (TV series)

The Better Show
Genre Talk Show
Starring Kristina Behr
JD Roberto
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 7
External links
Website

The Better Show was a syndicated lifestyle and celebrity focused daytime talk show. It aired weekdays on 160 stations across the United States including nearly all CW stations nationwide.[1] The program was produced and distributed by Meredith Corporation, a publishing company founded in 1902.[2] At the time of its cancellation the program was taped at a state of the art studio in midtown Manhattan. The Better Show gots its name from Meredith's flagship publication, Better Homes and Gardens. Much of the show's content was supposed to be tied not only to Better Homes and Gardens as well as Meredith's other magazines including More, Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents, and Family Circle.[3] Each episode featured a mix of subject matter experts and celebrity guests. There were both in-studio interviews and pre-taped feature stories.[4]

This was not Better Homes and Gardens' first foray into television; in the 1990s, the magazine presented a similar syndicated weekly series, Better Your Home with Better Homes and Gardens. In addition, the Australian version of the magazine has their TV series as well.

History and affiliates

Production of the program began in several test markets in 2007 and placed into syndication later that year.[5]

The showed aired on most of the 13 stations owned by Meredith, as well as on stations owned by companies including Fox, CBS, Tribune, LIN TV, Journal, Gannett, and Sinclair.[6] The show was cancelled during its eighth season.

Some Meredith stations air a localized version of the program, under varying titles using local hosts, à la PM Magazine. For example, WNEM-TV's version was called Better Mid-Michigan; while WGCL-TV's edition was known as Better Mornings Atlanta; and KPHO-TV's show was called Better Arizona. WPHL-TV (a Tribune-owned Better affiliate) aired the national version in the morning with local cut-ins throughout the hour, branded as Better Philly. In Kansas City, the local Better Kansas City aired on KCTV, while the national Better series aired on sister station KSMO-TV.[7]

Meredith announced that The Better Show would premiere on The Hallmark Channel in October 2012 to replace programming from Martha Stewart and to complement its "Home & Family" programming block.[5] The CW Plus picked up Better for air on its stations in fall 2014, where it replaced The Daily Buzz.

In February 2015, Meredith confirmed that the program would be cancelled at the end of May 2015.[8] Repeats continued to air until mid-September 2015.

Hosts and correspondents

The Better Show was co-hosted by Kristina Behr and JD Roberto from studios in Midtown Manhattan when it was cancelled. The show's other primary personality was correspondent Sarah Bernard.

Initially, The Better Show was split-hosted by Emmy-nominated Audra Lowe in New York City and Kimberly Maus at KPTV in Portland, Oregon. In August 2009, the show's West Coast operations moved to WFSB in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, near Hartford. At that time Lowe became the program's solo host.

Rhiannon Ally was named Lowe's co-host in January 2011. She originally joined the program in September 2009 as a correspondent based out of Rocky Hill. She had also served as Lowe's substitute. Ally left to take a news anchor position in Miami, Florida.

On September 12, 2011, JD Roberto was added as a co-host. Reporter Leslie Nagy was the show's main correspondent. Home and design expert Jennifer Adams, gardening host Mar Jennings, and celebrity and country music interviewers Ashlie Kolb and Sarah Bernard made regular contributions to the program.

Lowe served as the show's longest running host. When she walked away from her contract in 2013, the show hired soap opera veteran Rebecca Budig to replace her on the desk with Roberto. Budig stayed one season. All three hosts were nominated for a National Daytime Emmy in the "Best Hosting" category.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.better.tv/
  2. ↑ http://www.meredith.com/meredith_corporate/company_history.html
  3. ↑ http://www.meredith.com/meredith_corporate/about_meredith.html
  4. ↑ http://www.better.tv/about/
  5. 1 2 Poggi, Jeanine (March 4, 2013). "Hallmark Channel Looks to 'Better' Daytime Lineup". Advertising Age. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ KCTV-5 creating a 9 a.m. show, Kansas City Star, May 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ Dodson, Andrew (February 13, 2015). "WNEM TV5 anchor Katie O'Mara takes leave of absence due to blood disease". Bay City Times (Mlive Media Group). Retrieved February 19, 2015.

Links to local versions Of The Better Show

External links

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